Featured Artwork: Mary Bentz Gilkerson

By

-

July 9, 2018

Early Morning, Scott Creek
7 x 5 in., oil
$325

Using the ever-changing color and light of a impression, the artistry of Mary Bentz Gilkerson’s paintings connect people to the experience of place.

“Almost daily for the last five years I’ve made a small painting inspired by the landscapes I travel through, mainly near the roads and highways around Columbia, South Carolina, especially Lower Richland,” says Wilkerson.

Mary is drawn to the ordinary spaces we move through, especially ones that are within view from the road.

“In a roadside view I find a strange intersection of nature and culture. We move so fast that we don’t take time to observe the world around us in the way that people did before modern transportation and technology came along. In my work, I seek to focus on the shifting patterns of light and color that tell us what time of day and season it is, to note the small and subtle, as well as the large and grand.”

Gilkerson holds an MFA in drawing and painting from the University of South Carolina. A native South Carolinian, she lives and works in her Columbia studio after retiring as a professor of art at Columbia College. She has received grants from the South Carolina Arts Commission and the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties in addition to having been selected as a Southern Arts Federation Fellowship Finalist. Her work is in the permanent collections of McKissick Museum, Palmetto Health, Morris Communications Company, and Seibels Bruce Group, among others.

See more of Gilkerson’s work and join her email list at MaryGilkerson.com

Also view Gilkerson’s work at if ART Gallery in Columbia, South Carolina, and online at http://ifartgallery.blogspot.com/

Join Gilkerson’s free community for artists at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtWorkLiving/

Albert Bierstadt: Witness to a Changing West

By

Fine Art Today

-

July 8, 2018

0

Western art - Albert Bierstadt - FineArtConnoisseur.com — Albert Bierstadt (American, born Germany, 1830 – 1902), "The Buffalo Trail," ca. 1867, oil on canvas, 31.875 x 48 inches. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts. Gift of Martha C. Karolik for the M. and M. Karolik Collection of American Paintings, 1815 – 1865. 47.1268

Albert Bierstadt (1830–1902) is typically noted for his sweeping landscapes. In “Witness to a Changing West,” he is celebrated as a painter of western wildlife and indigenous peoples. Through his art, actions, and affiliations, Bierstadt participated in debates about the decimation of wildlife, land use and development, and the fate of Native Americans in the West. “Albert Bierstadt: Witness to a Changing West” is on view at the Whitney Western Art Museum (Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, Wyoming) through September 30, 2018.

Western art - William Jacob Hays - FineArtConnoisseur.com — William Jacob Hays, Sr. (American, 1830 – 1875), “A Herd of Bison Crossing the Missouri River,” 1863, oil on canvas, 36.125 x 72 in. Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, Wyoming, USA. Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney Trust Fund Purchase. 3.60

From the museum (written by Nancy McClure):

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West and Gilcrease Museum have partnered to present a groundbreaking exhibition titled “Albert Bierstadt: Witness to a Changing West.” Bierstadt (1830–1902) is best known as America’s premier western landscape artist. He was also a renowned history painter, a rarely discussed element of his legacy. This major exhibition addresses Bierstadt in context of his treatment not just of majestic mountains and lakes but more prominently of bison and American Indians, whom he approached as key subjects for his art.

Bierstadt’s history paintings conveyed moral messages as he strove to preserve the dignity of Native people like the Sioux and Shoshone, reveal the tragic slaughter of the American bison, and inspire empathy for the remnant herds of buffalo in Yellowstone National Park as the species neared extinction.

The painter’s masterwork, “The Last of the Buffalo” (above; ca. 1888), stands as a powerful example of the national and international impact of Bierstadt’s art for Euro-American and Native people alike in the late nineteenth century. This and other selected works demonstrate the ways in which Bierstadt engaged with environmental and aesthetic issues of his time, and employed the subjects of Plains Indians and bison as iconic symbols of western America’s changing face.

Albert Bierstadt, “Head of Buffalo and Indian,” ca. 1859, oil on board, 13.875 x 19 in. Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles, California. 88.108.14

After its run at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, “Albert Bierstadt: Witness to a Changing West” travels to Gilcrease Museum (Tulsa, Oklahoma), where it opens November 3, 2018, and runs through February 10, 2019.

Sign up to receive Fine Art Today, the free weekly e-newsletter from
Fine Art Connoisseur magazine.

Familiar Faces from Far Away

By

Fine Art Today

-

July 8, 2018

0

Susan Ploughe oil paintings - FineArtConnoisseur.com — Susan Ploughe, “Grandfather’s Limo,” oil on canvas, 12 x 12 in., $1,300

Linden Gallery in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin, is pleased to announce the opening of “Familiar Faces from Far Away,” an exhibition of oil paintings by artist Susan Ploughe.

Traveling abroad has been a large inspiration for Ploughe’s work. She says, “When you’re in another country, particularly one with a very different culture from your own, everything feels strange at first. It can be hard to connect, to find an entry point. I quickly learned that people are pretty much the same wherever I go. I can begin to pick out the calm observer, the life of the party, the cautious, the reckless, the big-hearted … and they start to feel familiar.”

Her subjects are now familiar faces, as Susan has seen or met these folks on her trips to China and as she works from photographs she takes on these journeys. She finds herself looking for familiar faces in magazine articles and photos that others have taken on their travels.

In addition to gaining the prestigious Signature Status in Oil Painters of America, this year Ploughe earned Signature Status in the American Impressionist Society.

Susan Ploughe, “Loves to Laugh,” oil on linen, 20 x 16 in., $1,900

The exhibit of her new oil paintings is at Linden Gallery through August 8, 2018. Linden Gallery is located at Highway 42 and Mink River Road in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin. Hours are 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily. For more information, please call the gallery at (920) 854-2487.

Sign up to receive Fine Art Today, the free weekly e-newsletter from
Fine Art Connoisseur magazine.

Reflections

By

Fine Art Today

-

July 8, 2018

0

Adrian Gottlieb paintings - FineArtConnoisseur.com — Adrian Gottlieb, “Medea,” oil on linen, 24 x 28 in.

“Reflections” is a collection of work from Adrian Gottlieb. The exhibition is on view through August 17, 2018, at American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasadena, California.

“Gottlieb’s personal fascination with interpreting ephemeral, yet deep, thoughts as a form of poetic idealism in painting prompts a distinct art language that merges the worlds of Realism and Impressionism. By applying the classical skills of the Old Masters, his contemporary subjects are given an enigmatic and timeless appeal.” ~ Elaine Adams, Director, American Legacy Fine Arts

Sign up to receive Fine Art Today, the free weekly e-newsletter from
Fine Art Connoisseur magazine.

Women Artists in Paris

By

Fine Art Today

-

July 8, 2018

0

Women artists - Anna Archer - FineArtConnoisseur.com — Anna Ancher (Danish, 1859–1935), “The Harvesters,” 1905, oil on canvas, 17.125 x 22.125 in. Art Museums of Skagen, Denmark, SKM1465. Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Between 1850 and 1900, Paris was the center of the art world, attracting women artists from across the globe with its museums, academies, galleries, and dynamic urban life. These groundbreaking women overcame immense obstacles to refine their art and develop their careers, staging what we now recognize as a quiet revolution. They played a pivotal role in the emergence of the first avant-garde movements, such as Impressionism and Symbolism, as well as in the dismantling of the Salon system, where training, exhibitions, and purchases were overseen by the government.

Women artists - Berthe Morisot - FineArtConnoisseur.com — Berthe Morisot (French, 1841–1895), “The Sisters,” 1869, oil on canvas, 20.5 x 32 in. National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. Gift of Mrs. Charles S. Carstairs, 1952.9.2. Courtesy American Federation of Arts

This exhibition illuminates a historical moment marked by the resolute advance of women in the art world. In 1865, Rosa Bonheur became the first woman to be awarded the coveted Légion d’Honneur, the highest decoration in France; in 1881, the Union des Femmes Peintres et Sculpteurs was created; and in 1897, women were finally granted acceptance to the École des Beaux-Arts (School of Fine Arts).

Women artists - Rosa Bonheur - FineArtConnoisseur.com — Rosa Bonheur (French, 1822–1899), “Plowing in Nivernais,” 1850, oil on canvas, 52.5 x 102 in. Bequest of John Ringling, 1936, SN433, Collection of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the State Art Museum of Florida, Florida State University, Sarasota, FL. Courtesy American Federation of Arts

Like their male colleagues, women artists grappled with the issues of the day by taking on modern subjects, experimenting with scenes drawn from private life, and capturing startling new impressions. Yet, at the same time, they drew upon their social difference as a source of artistic inspiration. After study in Paris, many women returned to their home countries with a renewed commitment to their work, and several opened studios or schools, hosted salons, and built female-centric professional networks.

Women artists - Marie Bashkirtseff - FineArtConnoisseur.com — Marie Bashkirtseff (Ukrainian, 1858–1884), “In the Studio,” 1881, oil on canvas, 60.625 x 73.25 in. Dnipropetrovsk State Art Museum, Ukraine, KH-4234. Photo: Dnipropetrovsk/Bridgeman Images. Courtesy American Federation of Arts

“Women Artists in Paris, 1850–1900” reveals remarkable women and the resistance, disappointment, determination, and success reflected in their works. It runs through September 3, 2018, at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Sign up to receive Fine Art Today, the free weekly e-newsletter from
Fine Art Connoisseur magazine.

A Mecca for Contemporary Realism

By

Fine Art Today

-

July 8, 2018

0

Contemporary realism - FineArtConnoisseur.com — Steven Assael (b. 1957), "Preparation of the Bride," 1994, oil on canvas, 96 x 108 in.

From the latest issue: Download the July/August 2018 issue of Fine Art Connoisseur magazine to read the feature article “Seven Bridges: A Mecca for Contemporary Realism and More” by Peter Trippi.

Sign up to receive Fine Art Today, the free weekly e-newsletter from
Fine Art Connoisseur magazine.

On the Road For Art — Fine Art Connoisseur July/August 2018

By

Peter Trippi, Editor-in-Chief, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine

-

July 8, 2018

0

Fine Art Connoisseur magazine — Cover art by Daniel Sprick

Fine Art Connoisseur July/August 2018, Editor’s Note:

By Peter Trippi

Busy times ahead! I am truly fortunate to be anticipating some distinctive art adventures on the horizon. First up, this August is the judging of artworks to be exhibited in the 37th annual Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale. On view at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, the climactic moment of this beneﬁt project will occur the weekend of September 21–22, but ﬁrst it’s necessary to determine which pieces will receive prizes.

Several years ago, I was kindly invited to attend the event itself — decked out in the proper hat and boots — and was mightily impressed by the quality and range of artworks depicting the land, people, and wildlife of the American West. The scenery in and around Cody — on the doorstep of Yellowstone National Park — is extraordinarily beautiful, and I am particularly looking forward to catching up with the wonderful people who support and staff the center all year long. A trip to Cody is highly recommended as both fun and a reminder of the awe-inspiring wilderness America still possesses.

Speaking of awe-inspiring, the Fine Art Connoisseur trip to Europe this October will focus on Italy, perhaps the most artistic nation on earth. Our merry band of art-loving readers will begin with a pre-tour to Milan, taking in Leonardo’s “Last Supper,” the Pinacotheca di Brera, and the magniﬁcent Gothic cathedral, as well as a full day on and around Lake Como.

The group will grow in size as we reach Florence, where we will take close looks at masterworks not only at the Uffizi (Botticelli!) and Accademia (David!), but also at the newly expanded Florence Academy of Art and the brand-new Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. Then it’s on to Rome to enjoy a private tour of the Vatican Museum, including the Sistine Chapel, the superlative Borghese Gallery, and a look around the prestigious American Academy, which many visitors don’t get inside. Our post-tour brings us to Sorrento, from which we will make forays to Pompeii, Naples, Capri, and the stunningly scenic Amalﬁ coast. The art of Naples is relatively unfamiliar to Americans, so that day will offer extra surprises, not to mention the best pizza on earth.

Finally, please note the unusually large article in this issue devoted to Seven Bridges, an exceptional collection of contemporary art available to explore in Greenwich, Connecticut. I have been privileged to become friendly with its founder and chairman, Richard McKenzie, and his wife, Karla; their passionate interest in the more than 300 artists represented at Seven Bridges is contagious. Because anyone can make an appointment to visit, and because summer and autumn are ideal times to be in Connecticut, I wanted to get this article in now. Enjoy its beauty and do plan an outing to Seven Bridges soon.

In the meantime, happy summer travels, and many thanks as ever for your ongoing enthusiasm for all things Fine Art Connoisseur.

Fine Art Connoisseur magazine Download the July/August 2018 issue here, or subscribe to Fine Art Connoisseur today so you never miss an issue.

Sign up to receive Fine Art Today, the weekly e-newsletter from
Fine Art Connoisseur magazine.

Fine Art Auctions

By

Fine Art Today

-

July 6, 2018

0

We apologize, but the original content on this page is no longer available.

Please browse our current articles on fine art exhibitions, auctions, and more here.

Sign up to receive Fine Art Today, the weekly e-newsletter from
Fine Art Connoisseur magazine.

Featured Artwork: Kelli Folsom

By

Fine Art Today

-

July 5, 2018

0

Apple Blossom Tea
14 x 18 in., oil on panel
$2500
Exhibited in Women Artists of the West Tallgrass Rendezvous 48th Annual Juried Exhibition at the Price Tower Center for the Arts, Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
September 20-November 4, 2018. Reception on September 20th.

I love painting a still life exclusively from life! It’s a living connection with the subject matter that excites me the most. I start off with a clear idea of what I want to create and then I see where the paint takes me. I live to make rich paintings with expressive brushstrokes while still maintaining that classical old world look that I love so much. Every painting is an exhilarating dance of visual problem solving and excited study of what paint can do.

Perhaps the only other thing even more fulfilling to me than painting is teaching. There is nothing greater than feeling like I’ve helped someone else achieve their painting goals. I believe that every artists work is VITAL to our collective well being. I especially love helping female artists since our role in art has been diminished for centuries.

Kelli received a B.F.A. from Lyme Academy of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, Connecticut, the first impressionist colony in the U.S. established in 1899. It is here that she studied traditional life drawing, painting and sculpture with great emphasis on in depth study and classical techniques combined with the joy of working in a direct impressionist style in nature.

She is a signature member of American Women Artists and Oil Painters of America.

Kelli teaches an online course, VITAL art sessions, and will be teaching several workshops in 2019. Locations include: Scottsdale Artists’ School, Amarillo Arts Institute and Italy. Please visit her website for more details: kellifolsom.com

Follow Kelli on Facebook and Instagram.

Featured Artwork: William A. Schneider

By

Fine Art Today

-

July 3, 2018

0

Reckless Abandon
24 x 18 in., pastel
Available at Illume Gallery of Fine Art 801.210.2853

William A. Schneider’s work has evolved since he finished his studies at the American Academy of Art. Workshops with Carolyn Anderson, Dan Gerhartz, Scott Burdick, Harley Brown, Scott Christensen, Huihan Liu, David Leffel, and Richard Schmid among others solidified his understanding of the basics. But he credits the many hours he spent studying and copying masterworks by Nicolai Fechin with loosening up his brushwork and approach to edges.

He also describes four days of intense study and analysis at an exhibit of the works of J.W. Waterhouse in Montreal as an “epiphany” in his understanding of composition.
William commented, “The wonderful thing about art is that you can always get better. I view myself as a perpetual student!”

Bill was awarded signature status in Oil Painters of America (OPA). In addition the Pastel Society of America has recognized him as a “Master Pastelist,” IAPS (The International Association of Pastel Societies) has named him to the Masters’ Circle and AIS made him a Master Signature Member (AISM).

Please see www.SchneiderArt.com for workshops and blog

Videos (Liliedahl Video Productions)
Design Secrets of the Masters, The Key to a Successful Painting
Nicolai Fechin’s Painting Secrets with William A. Schneider
Pastel Painting Secrets with William A Schneider

Gallery Representation
Total Arts, Taos, NM (575) 758-4667
New Masters Gallery, Carmel, CA (831) 625-1411
The Eisele Gallery of Fine Art, Cincinnati, OH (513) 791-7717
Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, SC 29401, (843) 694-2445 and Blowing Rock, NC (828) 414-9580
Illume Gallery of Fine Art, St. George, UT (801) 210-2853

Magazine Publications:
Capturing Emotion, American Artist Magazine, February 2001
Art Values, Southwest Art Magazine, November 2003
It’s About Meaning, Art of the West Magazine, November 2004
International Showcase of Master Pastel Painters, International Artist Magazine, Oct. 2004
Master Portrait Artists’ Showcase, International Artist Magazine, February 2005
William A. Schneider, The Pastel Journal, February 2005
Start Your Collection, Southwest Art Magazine, April 2005
Self-Portraits: Journey Through The Looking Glass, Art-Talk Magazine April 2005
2007 Guidebook of Art, (Cover image) Art of the West Magazine 2007
The Eyes Have It, The Pastel Journal, January 2008
Painting the Mouth, American Artist Magazine, March 2008
The Studio of William Schneider, Art of the West Magazine, July 2009
Competition Spotlight, The Artist’s Magazine, April 2010
Strategies to Organize the Elements of Your Paintings, Workshop Magazine, Fall 2010
The Good Guys – Masculine portraits from six talented artists, Southwest Art Magazine, January 2011
A Portrait Demonstration by William A. Schneider, OPA, PSA, International Artist Magazine, June / July 2012
Painting With Light, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, September/October 2013
Brushing Up, The Artist’s Magazine, June 2014
Capturing Emotions, International Artist Magazine, June-July 2015
To Blend or not to Blend, The Pastel Journal, Oct 2017

Recent Awards
Portrait Society of America “Members Only Show ” – (1st Place)
Art Renewal Center (ARC) Competition – (Top 100)
Portrait Society of America 6th Annual Portrait Competition, (Certificate Award)
Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition, Richland TN – (1st Place –Signature Artists)
The Artists Magazine 27th Annual Art Competition – (Finalist in Portrait / Figure Category)
Pastel Society of America 38th Annual Pastels Only – (Salmagundi Award)
Oil Painters of America 20th Annual National Juried Exhibition – (Presidents’ Award)
Oil Painters of America Online Competition 2012 – (2nd Place Signature Division)
27th Annual Bosque Art Classic – (John Steven Jones Purchase Award)
Pastel Society of America 40th Annual National Competition – (Holbein Award)
Pastel Society of New Hampshire National Juried Show – (Best of Show)
AANC National Juried Show – (1st Place)
Emerald Art Center National Juried Show – (Gold Medal)
Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional 2013 – (McBride Gallery Award of Excellence)
International Association of Pastel Societies National Juried Exhibition – (Prix de Pastel [Best of Show])
Pastel Society of New Hampshire National Juried Show – (Best of Show)
18th Annual Heartland National Exhibition – (Best of Show)
15th International Juried Exhibition “For Pastels Only” – (Best of Show)
20th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition, Artists of Northwest Arkansas – (Best of Show)
International Association of Pastel Societies Juried Web Show – (Bronze Award)
Old Post Office Museum and Art Center – (OPOMAC Award [First Place])
International Association of Pastel Societies 4th Master Circle Exhibition – (Honorable Mention)
Mile High National Juried Exhibition – (First Place)
Arizona Pastel Society – (Best of Show)
Bold Brush Competition – (Outstanding Pastel)
Plein Air Salon – (Best Painting by an Artist Over 65)
ARC 2018 – Finalist
Plein Air Salon – (Best Pastel)
NOAPS Online 2018 (Best People)
OPA Eastern Regional 2017 – (Award of Excellence)

WEEKLY NEWS FROM THE ART WORLD